Chapter 15
“You know those Shakespeare plays where someone betrays someone else and everyone ends up dead? That’s going to be you.” Rob relaxed on Marina’s office couch as he flipped through a file. “Like the one with the witches who boil someone.”
Marina had been ignoring his little jaded quips all day. She’d called him on her way home the night before and then gone to his place to tell him and Jeff about the night she’d had. Unsurprisingly, Jeff was impressed and Rob was skeptical.
“First of all, no one is going to die, and the witches didn’t boil a person.” She didn’t think so, anyway. She wasn’t a Shakespeare expert. “Second, it was in the name of research, and it isn’t like she doesn’t know we’re playing on different sides. I didn’t do anything sneaky.”
He tilted his head thoughtfully, still reading the file.
“Not technically, counselor. But she invited you over in good faith, and in an attempt to change you from lawyer robot to boho-femme. The fact that you’ll still blow that building into rubble around her at the first opportunity so you can climb the ruins to your promotion probably hasn’t crossed her mind. ”
“Knock it off.” Marina slammed her cup down on the desk and the dregs splashed out. “Damn it. Don’t you have your own office?” She grabbed a box of tissues and started dabbing at the wet spots on the paperwork.
“Pissy much?” He stood and tucked his file under his arm. “Looks like I’m not the only one getting under your skin.” Whistling, he sauntered out of the office.
Marina continued to grumble under her breath about his childish behavior and how she hadn’t done anything wrong. At a quick knock she looked up, expecting to see Rob with a peace offering. It was Yvonne looking, if possible, even more stern than usual. “Yes?”
“I wanted to let you know I’m changing attorneys.
I’ll be working with Mr. Newsome downstairs.
I’ve already trained my replacement, and she’ll be here after lunch.
” She held up a stack of files. “Black Pinnacle had these sent over, and Sheila Black has made arrangements for you to attend the ballet tonight. The limo will pick you up at your apartment at six thirty.” A flash of distaste touched her lips and then just as quickly disappeared.
“You’re quitting?” Marina stood, waving the soggy coffee tissue at her. “You’ve barely just started working for me.”
“True. But I could tell from the outset that your personal life and unconventional approach to client relations would be an unsatisfactory situation for me.” She glanced at the pile of wet tissues on Marina’s desk.
“I like things orderly and timely, and I want to know that the attorney I’m working for does too. ”
Marina scoffed. “I like things orderly and timely too. How have I done anything that isn’t?”
“You come and go from the office to meet with a single client at her whim. While I know that isn’t your fault, I also dislike not knowing when you’ll be back to take care of messages and such. It makes my work harder.” She took a step back, putting her nearly in the hallway. “Good luck.”
With that, she was gone. Marina pinched the bridge of her nose and squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt not to shout obscenities.
Instead, she opened her eyes, grabbed a stapler, and threw it hard at the couch.
It bounced into the air and crashed onto the glass coffee table, cracking it down the middle.
“For fuck’s sake!” she hissed, sorely tempted to pick up the stapler and bash it against the table to finish the job.
“Things are going well, I see.” Montgomery’s droll voice filled the room like a bell tolling danger.
She tilted her head and gave him an apologetic smile. “Everything’s fine. Just working out a moment of frustration.”
He sat across from her desk and glanced over his shoulder at the cracked table. “I think it’s time we replace all your furniture with wood.” He turned back to her, gray eyebrows furrowed. “I hope this isn’t an indication that things are difficult with Sheila?”
“No. Of course not. In fact, she’s invited me to the ballet tonight, and I’ve sent out all initial offers on the project. Things are progressing well.” No need to mention the unwanted attraction, nor the frisson with River. None of that mattered.
“Good, good.” He hesitated, then stood, straightening his suit coat. “I don’t need to tell you that we want Sheila kept happy.” His gaze met hers, and it was cold, calculating. “However that needs to happen.”
He walked out, and Marina slumped in her chair.
Had he just told her to pimp herself out in order to keep a client?
While it was different that it was a woman, clearly the world hadn’t changed all that much.
Marina would gladly have thrown another stapler at the already broken table if she’d had one to hand. How dare he?
Someone clearing their throat made her look up. The woman with long blond hair and big blue eyes set in a face that was as plump as her body gave her a quick smile. Dressed as she was in dark brown leggings and an oversized beige sweater, she looked like a feminine potato.
“Yes?” Marina asked.
“I’m your new assistant, Cari.” She hurried in and stopped beside Marina’s desk.
“Here are the three files from Black Pinnacle you’ll need to look through next.
We’ve gotten two messages from recipients of letters, both emphatic rejections.
No others as of yet. This file,” she pulled one to the top of the stack, “is from a previous case. There’s an appeal, and I wanted to know if you’re keeping it or if you want me to punt it to someone else in the office. ”
Marina noted the different color sticky tabs with quick remarks that would make it easy to see what was where.
Cari’s phone buzzed. “One sec.” She hurried out, then came back in moments later. “Four-shot latte to get you through the afternoon.” She set it on Marina’s desk then took a step back, pen at the ready over a notepad.
“Wow. Thanks.” Marina checked her watch. “Apparently, I’m going to the ballet tonight. Do you know where it is?”
“The Lyric Opera House. You’re seeing The Nutcracker.” Cari flipped a page in her notebook and read out loud. “The limo is coming for you at home at six thirty p.m. Do you need me to arrange anything for you?”
Marina frowned and closed her eyes. “All I can picture is the outside, which is just another huge building. Any idea how dressy I need to be?” Asking Yvonne would have felt like asking a closet door which outfit she should wear, but she had a feeling Cari was going to be a good fit for this kind of thing, despite her own somewhat questionable fashion tastes.
“It’s super ornate inside. Lots of gold, big crystal chandeliers, that kind of thing.
And it’s also opening night. If I had to guess, I’d bet that Ms. Black has a box, not just regular shmo seats, and those people always look like their clothes have been made of dyed money.
I’d suggest more than nice dinner fancy but less than walking down the aisle fancy. ” She grinned.
Marina smiled back. “I like you. Okay, that gives me a good idea of what I need, thanks. I’ve got something that will work. Just make sure I get out of the office in time to get home and get ready without having to tear around my place like I’m on fire.”
“Will do.” Cari snapped the notebook shut. “Shout if you need anything.”
“Could you get me a new table? Maybe one made of wood.” Marina focused on the files when Cari left.
If three of them were Sheila’s, she needed to be ready to discuss them if Sheila decided to talk about work.
A little later, she sipped the cold latte and looked out the window.
The ballet. She’d never attended one. It hadn’t ever crossed her mind to. The phone buzzed.
“Sheila Black for you,” Cari said through the intercom.
“Go ahead.” Marina had been waiting for the call all day. “Sheila. How are you?”
“You probably haven’t seen it yet, but I need you to look over the Ardent file—”
“It’s ready to go. I’ve made some adjustments to the language in section C and suggested some changes in the NDA area because of their ties to financial markets. I can send it through now.” Marina smiled at her reflection in the window. That’s right. I’m the right person for your company.
“Oh. Well, good. But please don’t interrupt me.
Now, we’ll have company at the ballet tonight.
I’ve had my PA send the names of my guests over so you know who you’ll be meeting and so we can avoid any faux pas.
Please don’t eat from a street vendor beforehand.
” Her laugh was brittle, like glass under pressure.
Marina flushed and dug her fingernails into her leg to keep from saying anything stupid. “That’s very kind of you. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” There was a brief hesitation. “I’m looking forward to seeing you tonight.” She hung up.
Marina dropped her head back on her chair and closed her eyes. Tonight was going to be nothing but fake smiles and pretending to have interests in things no one with any sense actually had an interest in.
Cari gave a quick knock and came in with a pile of papers. “Right. You’ve got some memorizing to do. May I?” She motioned at the chair.
Marina nodded and rolled her head to look at her. “That was fast.”
Cari lowered the pages and gave her a huge smile. “I’m a talker. I’m positive, sarcastic, I love gaming, I have a dog named Patootie, and I’m very, very good at my job.” She held up the stack. “Let’s talk, and then you need to get going.”
For the next half hour, Cari briefed her on each of the six other guests. She’d even included pictures so Marina would have a chance of recognizing them. She included jobs, interests, and even previous travels. By the time she was shooing Marina out the door, there was no question she was ready.